This gorgeous cat greeted us in Edinburgh several times. We began looking forward to seeing it, and were disappointed if we didn’t encounter it heading out to, or coming back from, our explorations.
Edinburgh Sunsets
Took a ten-day trip to Edinburgh, and shall catch up with a number of posts, dated approximately to the right dates.
First off, a number of sunsets from the high window in our friend’s apartment where we stayed.
Edinburgh Castle
Keeping My Eyes and Ears Open on the way to Work
Spotted these beauties early this morning in southeast Burnaby. Northern Flicker and what I think is a Eurasian Collared Dove.
Does Removing a Few Statues Deal with Colonialism?
OK, it’s late, and I’m sick with the flu, tired, and cranky. But. . .
So all these places that are taking down statues of colonial oppressors (Victoria [Sir John A], New Westminster [Judge Begbie] . . . )
(BTW I am not opposed to removing them. . .)
Why aren’t they changing their names?
Could you be any more colonial than having a name like Victoria? New Westminster?
I live in a ‘hood in Burnaby (named after an alien “explorer”) with streets around me like Nelson, Victory, Royal Oak. . . Sheesh.
Just because Robert Burnaby happened to be one of the first white folks in this area (coming after thousands of years of indigenous settlement) he got tons of stuff named after him, not only the city.
Wandering a Shotengai
I love shotengai, or shopping arcades, in Japan. Here are a few shots from the one in Himeji leading from the station to the castle.
Visiting Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial
Visiting the statue of Sakamoto Ryoma at the memorial museum on the island of Shikoku, Japan, in April.
Ryoma is likely one of the most popular figures in Japanese history, with many a TV drama and movie about his life. Wikipedia.
Shikoku Turtle Museum
We visited this research center and museum on the island of Shikoku in Japan in April. Loggerhead turtles use the nearby beach for nesting, but unfortunately records of nests have dropped precipitously 
.
Asamushi Aquarium in Aomori Prefecture, Japan
Way back in early April we visited the Asamushi Aquarium during our trip to Japan.
How to Distract Samurai Guarding a Castle
A few weeks ago, Yumi demonstrated how to distract the samurai at a castle wall in Japan while the ninja climb over. . . 
Yumi is an amazingly good sport. Not to mention an amazingly good travel organizer.
My Favorite Shot From April Japan Trip
One of my fave photos from Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu. It was almost like they set up the shot for me .
A newly married couple posing for photos, and tourists in a poled boat passing in front.
I saw the composition shaping up from a distance, and took off running toward them to get the angle. Crazy foreigners :-).